Death or Resurrection? Christian Church Leader Responses to External Change

Christian churches in many Western countries have been confronted with a general decline in church membership and participation due to significant, society-wide shifts. This study seeks to better understand how church leaders at the local level work through the challenges posed by these external developments. Using a combination of semi-structured interviews and panel sessions conducted in The Netherlands, our analysis reveals a wide variety of change responses by local church leaders, even within church traditions. Based on these differences, we develop a process model of how and why local church leaders will differently engage with external change, thus opening up the debate around the contingencies and activities that may support local churches and their leaders in reversing local church decline. Our research also highlights the importance of local level processes and dynamics in understanding how Christian churches interact with their external contexts.

The Teaching of Pope Francis About Synodality in the Context of Contemporary Theological and Ecumenical Reflection

The article deals with the ecclesiology of the local Church and synodality. Both topics have been present in Catholic theology since the time of the Second Vatican Council, which laid the foundation for the ecclesiology of the local/particular Church, collegiality of bishops and synodality. This ecclesiology was developed both theoretically and practically in the post-conciliar period, but there are some theologians who believe that during the pontificate of John Paul II there was a return to the universalist ecclesiology, as evidenced by the documents published by the Roman Curia, especially Communionis notio. Pope’s Francis teaching on synodality and strengthening the Church at local and regional levels addresses the demands of those theologians who believe that Chapter III of the Lumen Gentium Constitution has not yet been properly implemented. The Pope emphasizes, that synodality is a constitutive dimension of the Church and therefore what the Lord is asking of us is already in some sense fully present in the word “synod” itself.

Between Online Autonomy and Local Constraints: Spaces of Roman Catholic Women’s Activity in Poland

The analysis presented in this article shows how a hybrid community combining online and offline activity generates a semi-autonomous space of women's activity, neither fully independent of the religious institution, nor entirely controlled by it. Based on results obtained over 15 months of qualitative research conducted in the Captivating (Urzekająca), conservative community of Roman Catholic women in Poland, I show that digital environments are conducive to building a community of women, a creative approach to practices, renegotiating power relations, and building a sense of agency among women, while also recognizing the authority of the Church as an institution. At the same time, I argue that relative autonomy in practising religion online is limited by the pressures experienced by women in the offline space as a result of the nature of the local Church. The article discusses the question of the relations between the online and offline space, as well as the role of the broader context for understanding conservative women's practice of religion.

General Remarks

Part III discusses prosulas according to their placement in the liturgical calendar. It is structured into three chapters, the first providing a general discussion of prosulas as glosses and a complete liturgical table of all Beneventan prosulas, the second examining the prosulas of the Temporal (the feasts connected with the life and mission of Jesus), and the third analyzing those of the Sanctoral (the feasts of the Saints). Prosulas of the Temporal were particularly abundant in manuscripts copied in female establishments, possibly as a reflection of the special devotion to Jesus as the nuns’ spiritual spouse; those of the Sanctoral tend to favor saints from Africa or West Asia, the perceived cradles of Christianity, to emphasize the prestige of the local Church.

Maori, Biculturalism and the Assemblies of God in New Zealand, 1970 - 2008

<p>This thesis examines the extent to which the New Zealand Assemblies of God, one of the largest and oldest Pentecostal denominations in the country, has fostered participation by Maori, and its success in doing so between 1970 and 2008. From the advent of the Mana Maori renaissance in the 1970s the idea of biculturalism became an important vehicle for Maori aspirations. As part of its broader agenda, the thesis also considers the church's response to this bicultural emphasis. The Assemblies' particular response is analysed in the light of experiences in the mainline denominations and the Apostolic and Destiny churches which either experienced considerable success in attracting Maori participation, or explicitly accommodated the call for a bicultural response using recognised bicultural models. The research is based on the published literature of the Assemblies of God and an extensive range of interviews. These provided detail on the motivations and underlying beliefs that have generated particular responses. The published literature of the other denominations has also been addressed for comparative purposes, along with a range of relevant secondary literature. The Assemblies of God's flexible structure, clarity of teaching, fostering of indigenous leadership and emphasis on local church autonomy, has enabled it to grow rapidly throughout the world. Despite this, and despite the church's emphasis on crosscultural mission, this thesis demonstrates that Maori have not joined the Assemblies of God to the same extent that they have other Pentecostal denominations in New Zealand. It argues that the church has done little to foster Maori participation in the movement, and identifies eight key historical, ideological, and organisational factors that have hindered its ability to do so. In particular, it highlights the significance of the denomination's emphasis on local church autonomy, the absence of any deliberate "mission" to Maori, and the church's multicultural emphasis and historical suspicion of "social justice".</p>

Maori, Biculturalism and the Assemblies of God in New Zealand, 1970 - 2008

<p>This thesis examines the extent to which the New Zealand Assemblies of God, one of the largest and oldest Pentecostal denominations in the country, has fostered participation by Maori, and its success in doing so between 1970 and 2008. From the advent of the Mana Maori renaissance in the 1970s the idea of biculturalism became an important vehicle for Maori aspirations. As part of its broader agenda, the thesis also considers the church's response to this bicultural emphasis. The Assemblies' particular response is analysed in the light of experiences in the mainline denominations and the Apostolic and Destiny churches which either experienced considerable success in attracting Maori participation, or explicitly accommodated the call for a bicultural response using recognised bicultural models. The research is based on the published literature of the Assemblies of God and an extensive range of interviews. These provided detail on the motivations and underlying beliefs that have generated particular responses. The published literature of the other denominations has also been addressed for comparative purposes, along with a range of relevant secondary literature. The Assemblies of God's flexible structure, clarity of teaching, fostering of indigenous leadership and emphasis on local church autonomy, has enabled it to grow rapidly throughout the world. Despite this, and despite the church's emphasis on crosscultural mission, this thesis demonstrates that Maori have not joined the Assemblies of God to the same extent that they have other Pentecostal denominations in New Zealand. It argues that the church has done little to foster Maori participation in the movement, and identifies eight key historical, ideological, and organisational factors that have hindered its ability to do so. In particular, it highlights the significance of the denomination's emphasis on local church autonomy, the absence of any deliberate "mission" to Maori, and the church's multicultural emphasis and historical suspicion of "social justice".</p>

Breaking Depression’s Silence within the Church through Friendships

This article explores the silent nature of depression in the local church and suggests that developing Jesus-style friendships can break the silence. It adapts the author’s Doctor of Ministry (DMin) research project, which explored the silent nature of depression in the local church and Christianity’s interpretive healing qualities. This article argues that the church has a rich history of helping sufferers interpret their experiences of depression, but changing worldviews, the growth of the modern medical model, and the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals monopolized health and shoved the church to the periphery of the conversation. Silence became the church’s typical response, which promoted an attitude of stigma and avoidance. The article suggests that developing Jesus-style friendships can help break the silence because social or religious barriers do not restrict such friendships. This model of friendship is crucial for giving depression sufferers a sense of identity, meaning, and purpose within the church community.

PEMURIDAN PEMBERDAYAAN BAGI JEMAAT DISABILITAS DALAM PELAYANAN MIMBAR DI GEREJA INKLUSIF

The Church belongs to the Lord and is the extension of the Lord's hand in the world. The Church is open to all people, but in church’s services, there are still discriminations, especially against members with disabilities. This research conducted in the Jemaat Kristen Indonesia (JKI) Bukit Sion Mangliawan is a follow-up study of the previous research, namely “The Discipleship for Congregations with Disabilities in Church M Malang”. The method used is experimental research that observes and analyzes changes resulting from X treatment on Y in controlled situations. The conclusions of the experimental research in the JKI Bukit Sion Mangliawan proved the hypothesis that member with disability was able to serve well like non-disabled ones in the service of the Word at local church. This proved that empowerment of discipleship in an inclusive church was a solution to the problem of marginalization of the empowerment of congregations with disabilities in the service of the Word at local church. Empowering discipleship in an inclusive church was most appropriate for anyone, whether the members of congregations with disabilities or not. Keywords: service of the Word, discipleship, empowerment, congregation with disability, inclusive church. Abstrak: Gereja adalah milik Tuhan dan perpanjangan tangan Tuhan di dunia. Gereja terbuka untuk semua manusia, tetapi di dalam pelayanan gereja masih terjadi diskriminasi, khususnya terhadap jemaat penyandang disabilitas. Penelitian ini yang dilaksanakan di gereja Jemaat Kristen Indonesia (JKI) Bukit Sion Mangliawan, merupakan penelitian lanjutan dari penelitian sebelumnya yaitu “Pemuridan bagi jemaat penyandang disabilitas di Gereja M Malang”. Metode yang digunakan adalah penelitian eksperimen; mengamati dan menganalisa perubahan akibat perlakuan X terhadap Y dalam situasi yang terkendalikan. Simpulan dari hasil penelitian eksperimen di gereja JKI Bukit Sion Mangliawan membuktikan hipotesa bahwa jemaat penyandang disabilitas mampu melayani dengan baik seperti orang non-disabilitas dalam pelayanan mimbar di dalam gereja lokal. Hal ini membuktikan bahwa pemuridan pemberdayaan di gereja inklusif sebagai solusi bagi masalah marjinalisasi pemberdayaan jemaat penyandang disabilitas dalam pelayanan mimbar di gereja lokal. Pemuridan pemberdayaan di gereja inklusif adalah yang paling tepat bagi siapa saja, baik jemaat penyandang disabilitas maupun bukan. Kata-kata kunci: pelayanan mimbar, pemuridan, pemberdayaan, jemaat penyandang disabilitas, gereja inklusif.

INFLUENCE OF TEACHERS’ COMPETENCE ON SUCCESS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOL AS A MISSION FIELD AT AFRCAN INLAND CHURCH, BONDENI LOCAL CHURCH, KENYA

Sunday-school is an important component of the church because it helps the church to produce healthy individuals that become active members. The objective of the study was to examine the influence on teachers’ competence on the success of Sunday-school as a mission field at A.I.C Bondeni in Nakuru County, Kenya. Specifically, the study examined how budgetary allocation, competence of Sunday-school teachers and also how administrative support influence Sunday-school as a mission field in the aforementioned church. The population of 548 Sunday-school instructors, youth, parents of Sunday-school children, pastors, and administrators at the AIC Bondeni Local Church was studied using a descriptive survey design. Stratified random sampling was used to select 85 respondents from the research population. To obtain data, a detailed self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was pilot tested before being used to collect data for the main study, in order to determine its validity and reliability. Prior to data collection, all necessary permits and consents were obtained. The collected data was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively with the aid of the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences software. Results revealed that teachers’ competence have a positive and statistically significant influence on the success of Sunday-school as a mission field. From the discoveries, the study recommends that AIC Bondeni and other churches should create budgetary allocation for teachers’ stipends, assess the theological understanding of Sunday-school teachers, and create continual teachers’ training and development programmes